Flexible geodesic-type toys

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional spinning and throwing toy having a generally geodesic appearance formed of flexible elongated members connected in a manner to provide substantial space therebetween so that friction on the toy is insignificant when it is moved freely through the air. The toy may be adapted for use as (1) a beach bag, by separably connecting certain of the elongated members to provide access to the interior of the toy and (2) a float for playing in water, by making the elongated members inflatable.

United States Patent 91 Kasravi FLEXIBLE GEODESIC-TYPE TOYS [76] Inventor: Peter B. Kasravi, PO. Box 1001,

Carpinteria, Calif. 93013 [22] Filed: June 19, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 480,733

[52] US. Cl. 273/58 D; 206/315; 272/1 B; 35/18 A; 46/28; 46/11 [51] Int. Cl. A63b 39/00; A63b 43/02 [58] Field of Search 273/58 D; 46/16, 28, 29, 46/25, 11; 35/18 A; 272/1 B; 206/315 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,868 5/1957 Viken 273/58 D 3,768,202 10/1973 Wheelock 273/58 D 3,830,011 8/1974 Ochrymowich 46/29 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 14,957 8/1894 United Kingdom 46/25 1 1 June 17, 1975 24,767 11/1907 United Kingdom 273/58 D Primary ExaminerGeorge .1. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or FirmHuebner & Worrel [57] ABSTRACT A three-dimensional spinning and throwing toy having a generally geodesic appearance formed of flexible elongated members connected in a manner to provide substantial space therebetween so that friction on the toy is insignificant when it is moved freely through the air. The toy may be adapted for use as (1) a beach bag, by separably connecting certain of the elongated members to provide access to the interior of the toy and (2) a float for playing in water, by making the elongated members inflatable.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJJUN 17 I975 3,889,950

SHEET 1 its. 3

FLEXIBLE GEODESIC-TYPE TOYS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION The invention relates to toys of the type that may be thrown or spun through the air. Toys according to the invention are safe for any age group and can be made soft enough so that they canbe-thrownagainst almost anything without causing damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention may be inany shape. such as spherical or spheroidal, and because ofits flexibility may be varied substantially from its primary shape. It may be made from a plurality of individual elongated members or may be molded of plastic material in one piece, or in two halves joined together.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved throwable and spinnable toy.

It is another object of the invention to provide a flexible, safe toy.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a throwable and spinnable toy which when thrown or spun moves through the air with little frictional resistance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein small details have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the invention in the form of a tubular molded ball or sphere, illustrated in the three dimensions;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the means by which elongated members forming the sphere are. arranged;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that in FIG. 3 illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the forming members are made of a flexible yarn;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that in FIG. 3 in which the elongated forming members are made of a flat rectangular material;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a means for connecting flat flexible members of a type similar to that shown in FIG. 5'.

FIG. 7 is a view ofanother embodiment of the invention having a generally spheroidal shape, and which has some members which are separable;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the circled area shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that in FIG. 3 illustrating an elongated forming member made of plastic coated wire; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of a type of forming member which is hollow and inflatable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again tothe drawings, there is shown in FIG. I a three-dimensional toy generally designated as 10, having a generally spherical shape and formed of flexible, elongated tubular members. In FIG. 2 the specific arrangement of the tubular members forming the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated. Each forming member, such as 11, has connected thereto four other members, such as l2, l3, l4 and 15. The member 12 is connected to one end 17 of the member 11 and the member 15 is connected to the other end 19. Members l3 and 14 are connected to the member 11 inter mediate its ends at 16 and 22, respectively.

The forming members, of which there are approximately 30 shown in FIG. 1, throughout the threedimensional configuration may be of the same length and may be connected at the same locations with respect to other members throughout the structure. Thus, in the'embodiment shown. each member, as 11, has four members connected to it in the same manner that the members 12, l3, l4 and 15 are connected. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each member is connected to some of the members and spaced from the remainder of the members so that the spacing between the members is great enough so that there is little or no friction on the toy structure when it is moved freely through the air.

Further, throughout the structure, one of the members. as 12, is connected at an end 18 to one of the members, as 14, which is connected intermediate ends 17 and 19 of the member 11. In this arrangement a part 20 of the member 11, a part 24 of the member 12, and apart 25 of the member 14, form a triangle 21 on one side of each of the members, as 11. Similarly on the other side of the member 11 a triangle 29 is formed by the parts 26, 27 and 28 of the members II, 15 and I3, respectively.

Each triangle throughout the structure adjoins a pentagon. as the triangle 21 adjoins the pentagon 31 and the triangle 29 adjoins the pentagon 32. The pentagon 31 is formed of a part 33 of the member 11, a part 34 of the member 14, a part 35 of the member 15, and parts 36 and 37 of members 40 and 41, respectively. which are spaced from the member 11. Similarly the pentagon 32 is formed of a side 43, part of the member I2, a side 44, part of the member 11, a side 45, part of the member 13, and sides 51 and 52, parts of the members 46 and 47, respectively, spaced from the member 11. Thus it may be seen that each member, as 11, is connected to the members 12, I3, 14 and 15.

In FIG. 3 the forming member 40 is shown in cross section to illustrate the tubular nature of the members forming the spherical structure 10. Material forming the tubular members may be typically made of a flexible plastic. In FIG. 4 a typical member 53 is shown to be made of yarn usable to make the structure shown in FIG. 1. The yarn may be made of hemp, nylon, wool or cotton, for examples.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there are illustrated portions of a structure, such as that shown in FIG. 1, in which the individual members may be made of elongated, generally rectangular flat pieces of molded or extruded plastic, as 58. Again, each of the members are connected in the same arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, the specific connections being made by tongues 59 secured within grooves 60 by means of glue or other suitable bonding means.

ln FIGS. 7-9 another embodiment of the invention is shown. Here. the three-dimensional structure. generally designated as 61, is generally spheroidal and made of flat, flexible plastic members. This embodiment may also be used as a container, for example, in addition to a toy. The members 65 and 66 have separable parts 67 and 68. and 70 and 71. respectively. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 the ends of the separable parts 67 and 68 over lap and are secured together by an openable and closable means 78, such as a conventional clasp 78. Thus. when it is desirable to do so the clasp on the members 65 and 66, as well as that on 70 and 71. may be opened so that. if the toy is to be used as a beach ball. beach equipment, such as towels. may be inserted into it and of course removed when desired so it can be used a toy.

in FIG. 10 there is shown a cross section of an elongated forming member 82 having a central flexible wire core 83 covered with a flexible plastic 84. The structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 may he made of such members as 82 which may be put together by conventional means.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 11 in which an elongated member 85, for forming structures as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, is illustrated. Members. such as 85, may be made of plastic or rubber having thin walls 86 forming a continuous or interrupted inflatable tube having removable air seals 87. If

the inflatable tubes are continuous throughout the ball structure, for example. only one air stop would be necessary for inflating the entire structure, but if the tubes are interrupted one air stop would be needed for each separable inflatable segment. This type of ball structure could be played with in water and because of its bouyancy would float.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description. and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangements hereinbefore described being merely by way of examples. I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms or uses mentioned except as in the accompanying claims wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim:

1. A throwing and spinning toy comprising:

a plurality of elongated members, each having a substantially low friction configuration, connected to form a three-dimensional structure;

each member being connected to four of the other members and being spaced from the remainder of said members;

two of the four members being connected to said each member being connected to each other and the other two of the four members being connected to said each member being connected to each other;

at each connection of said members there being a maximum of two members being joined; and

the spacing between the members being great enough so that friction on the toy is insignificant when the toy is moved freely through the air.

2. The invention according to claim I wherein:

all of the members are of the same length.

3. The invention according to claim I wherein:

the structure is uniform throughout.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein:

each of said members is connected to four of said members at the same locations.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein of the four members being connected to each member:

one of the four is connected to one end of said each member, one of the four is connected to the opposite end thereof, and

the other two of the four are connected intermediate the ends thereof.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein of the four members being connected to each member:

said one of the four connected to said one end is connected to one of the two connected intermediate said ends to form a first triangle on one side of said each member. one side of said first triangle being formed by a part of said each member; and

said one of the four connected to said opposite end is connected to the other of the two connected intermediate said ends to form a second triangle on the other side of said each member. one side of said second triangle being formed by a part of said each member.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which:

each triangle adjoins a pentagon formed by a part of said each member. by a part of one of the four connected intermediate said ends. by a part of one of the four connected to one of said ends. by parts of two of the remainder of the members spaced from said each member. and

said each member being connected to said four of said other members are each connected in the same locations.

8. The invention according to claim 7 in which:

said three-dimensional structure has a generally spheroidal shape, and each of said plurality of members is flexible so that said spheroidal shape can be varied.

9. The invention according to claim 8 in which:

two of said members forming a triangle with a part of said each member having separable portions intermediate their ends;

said separable portions being secured together by openable and closable means.

10. The invention according to claim 9 in which:

each of said plurality of members is tubular.

11. The invention according to claim 10 in which:

each of said plurality of members is inflatable. 

1. A throwing and spinning toy comprising: a plurality of elongated members, each having a substantially low friction configuration, connected to form a threedimensional structure; each member being connected to four of the other members and being spaced from the remainder of said members; two of the four members being connected to said each member being connected to each other and the other two of the four members being connected to said each member being connected to each other; at each connection of said members there being a maximum of two members being joined; and the spacing between the members being great enough so that friction on the toy is insignificant when the toy is moved freely through the air.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein: all of the members are of the same length.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein: the structure is uniform throughout.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein: each of said members is connected to four of said members at the same locations.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein of the four members being connected to each member: one of the four is connected to one end of said each member, one of the four is connected to the opposite end thereof, and the other two of the four are connected intermediate the ends thereof.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein of the four members being connected to each member: said one of the four connected to said one end is connected to one of the two connected intermediate said ends to form a first triangle on one side of said each member, one side of said first triangle being formed by a part of said each member; and said one of the four connected to said opposite end is connected to the other of the two connected intermediate said ends to form a second triangle on the other side of said each member, one side of said second triangle being formed by a part of said each member.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 in which: each triangle adjoins a pentagon formed by a part of said each member, by a part of one of the four connected intermediate said ends, by a part of one of the four connected to one of said ends, by parts of two of the remainder of the members spaced from said each member, and said each member being connected to said four of said other members are each connectEd in the same locations.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 in which: said three-dimensional structure has a generally spheroidal shape, and each of said plurality of members is flexible so that said spheroidal shape can be varied.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 in which: two of said members forming a triangle with a part of said each member having separable portions intermediate their ends; said separable portions being secured together by openable and closable means.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 in which: each of said plurality of members is tubular.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 in which: each of said plurality of members is inflatable. 